DIGGERS rolled on site – watched by the Business Secretary Greg Clark – to begin work on a transformational scheme set to bring 1,000 high quality manufacturing jobs to the Tees Valley.

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, was on hand at a special ceremony to mark the start of work on TeesAMP – the £55m home of advanced manufacturing in the North.

The Cabinet Minister called on manufacturers from around the world to “Make it in Middlesbrough” as he helped put the first spade in the ground at the 11 hectare site.

Representatives from hydraulic engineering specialist Industrial and Marine Hydraulics Ltd (IMH) – the first company to agree tenancy terms for the £55m park – joined senior public and private sector leaders from across the region.

TeesAMP is funded by £12.5m from Middlesbrough Council, £7.65m from Tees Valley Combined Authority, £2.3m from the SSI Taskforce and some private investment.

The first phase of the project will deliver 180,000 sq ft of advanced manufacturing space across 17 buildings.

Business Secretary Greg Clark, who was born and raised in Normanby, said: “I’m pleased to be part of the ground-breaking of the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park which will play a hugely important role in driving forward delivery of our modern Industrial Strategy in the North East while bringing 1,000 highly skilled jobs to the region.”

Guests at the launch were shown plans for the extensive development, which aims to address a national shortage of high quality buildings for the advanced manufacturing sector.

The team behind TeesAMP is already in advanced talks with a range of manufacturers that are keen to call the Tees Valley home.

Once completed, the first phase of TeesAMP will be home to at least 17 advanced manufacturing companies and it is expected to generate hundreds of millions of gross value added for the Tees Valley economy.

James Griffiths, commercial director of IMH, explained why his company chose TeesAMP as its new location.

He said: “Our move to TeesAMP forms a key part of our long term business strategy and will provide us with the platform to drive further national and international growth, while providing an exceptional working environment for our expanding workforce.”

Ian Duffew, general manager of IMH said: “With more than three decades of engineering heritage on Teesside, we’re proud to be the first company to have committed to moving our headquarters to TeesAMP.

“With excellent facilities and transport links, it is a real asset for the Tees Valley and the wider North East.”

Dave Budd, Mayor of Middlesbrough, said: “TeesAMP is a clear symbol of our ambition, not just for Middlesbrough but for the whole of the Tees Valley.

“This is a development of national significance that will attract major investment, delivering jobs, skills and long-term prosperity.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: “TeesAMP is a game-changing opportunity to attract cutting-edge advanced manufacturing firms to the Tees Valley.

“The more businesses we have investing, employing, training and exporting in our area the better for local workers. It’s fantastic to see the work beginning to make our ambitious vision a reality.

”Greg Clark’s visit shows just how important a project this is, not just because it will put our region ahead of the pack in this vital sector, but it will also provide a huge boost to UK Plc.

“I look forward to welcoming the first businesses on site and showing them why Tees Valley is a great place to invest and work.”

For more information contact Tom Keighley at Cool Blue Brand Communications on  keighley@coolblue.co.uk or 0191 375 9146

Notes to editors

The £55m TeesAMP will attract high productivity cutting edge manufacturing companies looking for a prime location in one of the UK’s key regeneration areas

Part of the investment will be a £25 million Anaerobic Digester, with development work expected to get under way in the near future

The site is already home to TWI’s £10.8 m North East base